iPhone projector that also charges the handset launched in Japan

An accessory that transforms an iPhone into a projector while also recharging the device has been given a specifications boost and launched in Japan.

Sanwa has updated its PRJ011 iPhone charger/projector peripheral that was unveiled in January, reports Engadget.

The device, which docks with the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S, now comes fitted with a new 1,850mAh battery that can recharge the smartphone's battery up to 80%.

The battery also powers the projector, which can beam pictures, movies, documents or anything else from the iPhone screen onto a wall or flat surface.

Running for 120 minutes on a full charge, the projector has almost three times the brightness of its predecessor - increasing from 12 to 35 Lumens - and can show images up to 60 inches from a distance of up to six feet.

The product will became available in Japan tomorrow (August 4), priced at ¥23,800 (£195).

There is no indication when or if the accessory will launch in the UK, but anyone wanting to get a projection smartphone can now buy the Samsung Galaxy Beam, which features an integrated projector capable of 15 lumens of brightness, sufficient for high-definition projections up to 50 inches wide.

Watch a short video below introducing the PRJ011 iPhone charger/projector: